Mechanical lubricating device and method

ABSTRACT

A mechanically actuated lubricating device for conveyor systems and the like wherein energy from the system is transmitted to an energy storing means which releases the stored energy in an impulse manner to actuate a pump which dispenses clean shots of lubricating fluid to the system.

O Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,869,023

Thomson et a1. Mar. 4, 1975 [5 MECHANICAL LUBRICATING DEVICE 1,840,9341/1932 Craig 184/15 R AND METHOD 3,486,581 12/1969 Matthews 184/3 R [75]Inventors: Ronald E. Thomson, Cambridge; FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSPhilip J. Kast, Madison, both of 632,280 11/1949 Great Britain 184/15 RWis. 196,809 5/1923 Great Britain 184/15 7 I 3] Asslgnee 42323:Corporamn Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Assistant Exmniner-DanielJ. OConnor Fxled: Jan. 22, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmMerriam,Marshall, Shapiro 21 Appl. No.: 325,660

57 AB T T [52] U.S.Cl 184/15A 1 S [51] Int. Cl. ..F16n 7/16 A mechamcauymated lubrlcatmg devlce for [58] Field f Search". 184/15 R, 15 A, 15 B,2, 3 A; veyor systems and the like wherein energy from the 8 system istransmitted to an energy storing means which releases the stored energyin an impulse manner [56] References Cited to actuate a pump whichdispenses clean shots of lu- UNITED STATES PATENTS bricating fluid tothe system. 1,647,924 11/1927 May 184/15 R 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures aI P 26 GRAVITY FLOW 0F LUBRICANT FRQV RESERVOIR MECHANICAL LUBRICATINGDEVICE AND METHOD This invention relates to a new and improved means forlubricating conveyor equipment and the like and more particularlyrelates to a lubricating device which can mechanically lubricate aconveyor chain or other system while the chain or system is inoperation.

In the lubrication of conveyor systems, it is important that thelubricating device be able to provide a clean shot of lubricating fluidon a particular part of the conveyor chain and trolleys as the chaintravels past the lubricating station in the course of the conveyoroperation. If the lubricant is not deposited properly on the conveyor,disadvantages arise in that an excess of lubricating fluid will causeproblems ofdrippage and will necessitate accessory devices to catch theexcess lubricating fluid. Additionally, if the lubricating fluid is dispensed as a mist or spray, too much of the conveyor system will becoated with the lubricating fluid which, in some applications, isentirely unacceptable. Accordingly, it is important that a lubricatingsystem provide what is known as a clean shot which is a repeatable solidamount of fluid of predetermined volume which is ejected with aparticular velocity. The velocity is capable of propelling the amount offluid in any specific direction for a selected distance with arelatively flat trajectory such that the amount of fluid can be directedat a point in space-time and repeatedly contact this point independentof external factors such as chain speeds, fluid viscosity, ambienttemperature and the like.

While it is known in the art to provide lubricating systems in whichvarious portions of the device are either electrically or pneumaticallyactuated, there are some applications where the expense of providing andmaintaining the necessary source of electrical or pneumatic power supplyto. actuate the lubricating device is too costly. Accordingly, it isdesired to have the conveyor system serve as thesource of power fromwhich the lubricating device can be actuated. In other instances, it isdesired to have a unit which can be readily installed and at the sametime is adapted for portable movement to various locations in theconveyor system without concern for location of pneumatic and electricallines. At the same time a unit, which must depend upon the operation ofthe conveyor system for its actuation, must be able to provide a cleanshot of lubricating fluid to the parts on the conveyor system to belubricated as opposed to either being erratic in its operation ordispensing mist, fog or spray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the view of overcoming the variousproblems associated with the prior art of lubricating devices, theinvention disclosed and claimed herein relates to a lubricating systemwhich delivers clean shots of lubricating fluid to the parts to belubricated. At the same time, the present invention does not require anelectrical or pneumatic source of power supply but rather the unit isself-contained with the source of power necessary to actuate thelubricating system of the present invention being supplied by themovement of a conveyor system past the lubricating station.

Briefly, the invention relates to a device comprising a base plate uponwhich is located an arm adapted to be pivoted about a pivot post. Oneend of the arm is adapted to contact and be actuated by the conveyorchain, trolley wheel or some other repetively protruding object as theobject passes the lubricating station in the course of the operation ofthe conveyor system. The remaining end of the arm is connected toanextension spring. The arm is also in contact with a manually operatedpiston metering pump which is supplied lubricant by means of gravityflow from a reservoir of lubricating fluid located above the lubricatingdevice of the present system.

In operation, as a conveyor chain passes the lubricating device, the armis cammed to pivot about the pivot post. Pivoting of the arm causes theremaining end of the arm to swing outward causing the extension springto be pulled in tension thereby serving to store potential energy in thespring means. As the conveyor chain continues to move past thelubricating device, the arm is permitted to swing back to its normalposition at which time the spring will seek to release its energy as itseeks to return to its normal extended position. As the spring meansreturns to its normal position, the energy which is released in impulsefashion causes the arm to act against a piston rod in a piston meteringpump. The pump will permit lubricating fluid to be released in a propermetered amount through nozzles which are oriented to direct thedischarged fluid to those portions of the conveyor chain or system to belubricated.

The lubricating system of the present invention provides the desiredshot of lubricating fluid without any dripping due to over-lubricating.Because of the rapid dissipation of stored energy in the spring, the armis caused to impart an impulse action against the piston rod of themetering pump whereby the fluid is discharged as a clean shot as opposedto being a drip, spray, fog or mist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention'will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lubricating device of the present inventionin which the actuating arm is shown in actuated and nonactuatedpositions;

FIG. 2 shows a section view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of the conveyor chain of FIGS. 1and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, thereis shown a conveyor chain 10 composed of links 11 and 12 connectedtogether at 13 by means of pivot pin 14. The chain is adapted to becarried in a conveyor channel 15 past lubricating station 20 where thelubricating device 30 of the present invention is located.

Device 30 comprises a base plate 31 which is welded or attached by othersuitable means to conveyor channel 15. While the plate is shown as beingwelded, it can be attached for easy removal to other areas of theconveyor system. A portion of channel 15 is cut away at 16 and 17 sothat access to conveyor chain 10 is permitted. Pivot post 32 is locatedcontiguous to end 29 of plate 31.

Arm 33 is adapted to pivot about post 32 at 34. One embodiment of arm 33includes two spaced bars 28 connected at one end by strip 27. It isappreciated that the arm could be solid if desired. Roller 35 is pinnedat 36 between bars 28 of arm 33.

At the opposite end of arm 33 there is located a lug 37. Lug 37 has anopening 38 in which one end of extension spring 40 is located. An Lshaped bracket 41 is located at the end 26 of plate 31. Leg 42 ofbracket 41 is attached to base plate 31 by welding or other suitablemeans. Leg 43 projects vertically from bracket 41 and an eyebolt 44 isadjustably fastened at 45 to leg 43. The remaining end 46 of extensionspring 40 is at tached to eyebolt 44 as shown in FIG. 1.

Adjusting of spring 40 is accomplished by moving eyebolt 44 relative toleg 43. The spring is adjusted initially to provide the pre-tensionnecessary to achieve a clean shot taking into consideration variousfactors which will affect the shot such as fluid viscosity, chain speed,number of ejection nozzles and ambient temperatures. While subsequentchanges in the operating conditions can affect the shot, the initialadjustment of the spring is sufficient to insure that a clean shot ismaintained even during a wide variation in these operating conditions.

A manually actuated piston pump 50 is bolted at 51 to base plate 31.Pump 50 has an inlet port 53 and two exit ports 54 which leads tolubricant ejecting nozzles 55. Pump 50 includes a piston rod 56 andspring 57. Cap 58 is located at the end of rod 56. A rubber bumper 59 isattached to arm 33 and is in contact with cap 58. The bumper serves toreduce the noise which would occur if metal cap 58 contacted arm 33.Pump 50 is adapted to receive lubricant which is stored in a reservoir(not shown) located above base plate 31. Lubricant is adapted to flow bymeans of gravity from the reservoir through supply line 60 to the inletport 53 of pump 50. The pump 50 is a conventional pump. While a numberof pumps could be utilized for this particular application, one pumpwhich has been found to he satisfactory is a manually operated pumpwhich is available from Lincoln St. Louis, 4010 Goodfellow Blvd., St.Louis, Missouri, a Division of McNeil Corporation. The pump isillustrated and described in Section A, page 4 of a brochure designatedForm 5354-2. While the pump shownin the drawings utilizes two exit ports54, it is appreciated that any number of ports could be utilized bothfor intake and exit purposes.

In operation as conveyor chain passes by lubricating station 20, link 12will cause roller 35 and arm 33 to be pivoted about post 32 to theposition shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. As arm 33 is pivoted aboutpost 32, extension spring 40 is placed in tension thereby storingpotential energy.

When link 12 passes the location of arm 33 on base 31, the arm will bepermitted to be returned to its normal position by link 11. As shown inFIG. 3, link 11 comprises two spaced members 6 and 7. The space betweenmembers 6 and 7 is wider than the width of roller 35 as seen moreclearly in FIG. 2. When arm 33 is permitted to travel in the spacebetween numbers 6 and 7, the potential energy in spring 40 is convertedto kinetic energy and serves to pivot arm 33 about post 32. As arm 33pivots about post 32, spring 40 seeks to return to its normal positionand serves to give an impulse to arm 33 which contacts bumper 59. Theimpulse action against arm 33 is transmitted through bumper 59 to cap 58and rod 56 which, in turn, actuates piston pump 50. Actuation of pistonpump 50 will allow lubricating fluid to be ejected from exit ports 54and lubricating ejection stations 55 as clean shots onto conveyor chain10 at the location of pivot pins l4.

The operation will be repeated as conveyor chain 10 moves pastlubricating station 20. The entire operation of the piston pump 50 is bymechanical actuation of arm 33 and spring 40 seeking to return arm 33 toits normal position wherein spring 40 is in its normal state ofpre-extension. Utilization of spring 40 serves to assure that cleanshots of lubricating fluid are directed to the appropriate points oflubrication on conveyor chain 10. The precise delivery of lubricant tothe conveyor system is independent of how erratically the potentialenergy might be stored in spring 40.

No pneumatic or electrical source of supply is required. Accordingly,the lubricating unit of the present invention can be used at manylocations in a conveying system without the need of considering thelocation of an electrical power supply or a source of pneumatic powersupply.

In some instances it will be desired that after a period of lubrication,the lubricating device of the present invention should be placed in aninoperative position. With the view of accomplishing this objective, aslot is located in base plate 31. Pin 71 is welded to bar 28 of arm 33.Pin 71 is adapted to ride in slot 70 during operation of the lubricatingdevice. When it is desired to place the lubricating device in aninoperative position, lock member 72 which is pinned for rotation aboutbase plate 31 at 73 is rotated in position. This is accomplished bymoving arm 33 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.Subsequently, lock member 72 is rotated in the direction of the arrowshown in FIG. 2 so that when arm 33 is released and is pivoted aboutpost 32 as spring 40 seeks to return to its normal position, pin 71 willabut lock member 72 and will be held in a locked, biased position untilsuch time as lock member 72 is released.

The device of the present invention is relatively easy to install. Whilean arm adaptable with the conveyor chain shown in FIG. 3 has been shown,it is readily appreciated that the invention of the present device canbe used with various other conveyor chains utilized in conveyor systemspresently available. Similarly, while the arrangement shown hereinhasemployed an extension spring, it is appreciated that other types ofenergy storing means such as a compression spring could be utilized.Further, other types of locking devices to retain the lubricating devicein an inoperative position can be employed.

The lubricating system of the present invention has been shown in oneplane where the base plate 31 is in a horizontal position. If desired,the lubricating system could be oriented in other planes. Moreover,while gravity flow has been shown as the means for delivering lubricantto the pump, the lubricant could be supplied by other means such as aspring means to force feed the lubricant to pump 50.

What is desired and is accomplished with the present invention is toutilize available energy from the conveyor system, transmit that energyto the lubricating device as potential energy, and release the potentialenergy in an impulse action to actuate a pump means whereby clean shotsof lubricating fluid are ejected from the lubricating device absent anyrequirement for pneumatic or electrical power sources. Moreover, thedevice of the present invention can be moved about in a portablefashion, if desired, and can be retained in a locked, inoperativeposition when necessary.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as modifications will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of lubricating a conveyor system which passes alubricating station according to the steps of:

contacting said conveyor system intermittently with a member as saidsystem passes said lubricating station;

transmitting energy from said system through said member to an energystorage means in the period of contact with a conveyor system;

releasing the energy stored in said storage means in an impulse actionto drive pump means; and, dispensing fluid from said pump means to saidconveyor system;

whereby said conveyor system can be lubricated.

2. A lubricating device for use with a moving conveyor system in whichsaid system is to be lubricated by said device, said lubricating devicecomprising:

a base member adjacent to the conveyor system to be lubricated;

a mounting post located on said base member;

an arm having two ends, said arm being disposed for movement withrespect to said post from a normal position in which the arm is out ofcontact with the conveyor system to a biased position when one of saidarm ends contacts said conveyor system;

a spring means having two ends and adapted to be deflected and therebystore potential energy;

one spring end being connected to said base member and the other springend being connected to said arm to maintain said arm in its normalposition of non-contact with a conveyor system;

said spring means being adapted to be extended when said arm is movedwith respect to said post from its normal position to the biasedposition whereupon said spring is extended and potential energy isstored;

a manual pump means for pumping lubricating fluid said means includingat least one fluid dispensing port and a piston rod adapted for contactwith and movement with said arm;

whereby, when said lubricating device is in operation, one end of saidarm contacts said conveyor system intermittently to move with respect tosaid mounting post whereby potential energy is first stored in saidspring means as said spring means is deflected and then releasedsubstantially instantaneously whereby said pump means is actuated torelease a clean shot of lubricating fluid from said fluid dispensingport.

3. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mountingpost serves as an attachment for said arm whereby said arm rotates aboutsaid post when urged from the normal position by said moving conveyorsystem.

4. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further includinga locking means attached to said arm to maintain said arm in aninoperative position.

5. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further includingmeans for adjusting said spring means.

6. A lubricating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said springis an extension spring.

7. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 and further includinga locking means pivotally mounted on said base and selectively movableto engage said arm and thereby lock said arm in a position free ofcontact with the conveyor system.

8. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said lockingmeans is maintained in a biased position when said locking means is inlocking engagement with said arm.

1. The method of lubricating a conveyor system which passes alubricating station according to the steps of: contacting said conveyorsystem intermittently with a member as said system passes saidlubricating station; transmitting energy from said system through saidmember to an energy storage means in the period of contact with aconveyor system; releasing the energy stored in said storage means in animpulse action to drive pump means; and, dispensing fluid from said pumpmeans to said conveyor system; whereby said conveyor system can belubricated.
 2. A lubricating device for use with a moving conveyorsystem in which said system is to be lubricated by said device, saidlubricating device comprising: a base member adjacent to the conveyorsystem to be lubricated; a mounting post located on said base member; anarm having two ends, said arm being disposed for movement with respectto said post from a normal position in which the arm is out of contactwith the conveyor system to a biased position when one of said arm endscontacts said conveyor system; a spring means having two ends andadapted to be deflected and theReby store potential energy; one springend being connected to said base member and the other spring end beingconnected to said arm to maintain said arm in its normal position ofnon-contact with a conveyor system; said spring means being adapted tobe extended when said arm is moved with respect to said post from itsnormal position to the biased position whereupon said spring is extendedand potential energy is stored; a manual pump means for pumpinglubricating fluid said means including at least one fluid dispensingport and a piston rod adapted for contact with and movement with saidarm; whereby, when said lubricating device is in operation, one end ofsaid arm contacts said conveyor system intermittently to move withrespect to said mounting post whereby potential energy is first storedin said spring means as said spring means is deflected and then releasedsubstantially instantaneously whereby said pump means is actuated torelease a clean shot of lubricating fluid from said fluid dispensingport.
 3. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidmounting post serves as an attachment for said arm whereby said armrotates about said post when urged from the normal position by saidmoving conveyor system.
 4. A lubricating device in accordance with claim2 and further including a locking means attached to said arm to maintainsaid arm in an inoperative position.
 5. A lubricating device inaccordance with claim 2 and further including means for adjusting saidspring means.
 6. A lubricating system in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid spring is an extension spring.
 7. A lubricating device inaccordance with claim 2 and further including a locking means pivotallymounted on said base and selectively movable to engage said arm andthereby lock said arm in a position free of contact with the conveyorsystem.
 8. A lubricating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein saidlocking means is maintained in a biased position when said locking meansis in locking engagement with said arm.